2022 Impact Report Spring 2023 Donor Newsletter

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BIG Thanks!

Keep reading to learn how your support is helping sick kids.

We carrot do it without you!

You purchased a baby food

maker for a family needing

help feeding their son. Carissa,

B2g resource coordinator,

made the delivery with a smile.

Your generosity has grown

Carissa's role to full-time this

year which means she can be

there for more families looking

for support and answers.

Look at what YOU

made possible!

You nourished a sick child and

provided relief to his worried parents.

YOUR SPRING

DONOR IMPACT REPORT

This process, though, required the mom to mash up

his meals by hand, which was time-intensive and

exhausting. A simple fix would be to purchase a baby

food maker to prepare and store future meals.

A family caring for their infant with a serious illness

had trouble transitioning him from his liquid G-tube

diet. Their son did not like baby food, but he would

eat pureed vegetables that the family had for dinner.

Your gift provided a Smoothie & Baby Food

Maker for the overwhelemed family.

When Carissa, B2g resource coordinator, suggested

purchasing a baby food maker, she learned that the

mom had stopped working because the family could

not find a skilled pediatric nurse to watch their son.

The loss of income had strained the family's finances

and added stress to their situation.

Thanks to you, the little guy is eating well,

gaining weight, and receiving proper nutrition

from fresh vegetables and fruits.

This may seem like a small way to help, but this is a

luxury to a family with limited income and a child

with BIG needs. Your generosity has made life better

for the family by saving them time in the kitchen and

reducing physical strain.

You're Awesauce!

Three months after Asher was born,

Kelly was connected to Better2gether and

met Carissa, B2g resource coordinator.

Carissa learned about Asher's medical

needs and worked to secure a stroller

through Better2gether's community

partnership with Little Hands.

While Kelly had a stroller, she didn't

know she would need a special one to

support Asher's low muscle tone and carry

his oxygen, feeding bag and supplies. The

new stroller has been a game-changer for

traveling to medical appointments.

"Without fail, Carissa was there to check

on Asher and to listen," shares Kelly.

"Whether a text or sending a gift card to

help with gas for trips to the hospital, she's

there. Life would have been more stressful

without her."

Your gift funds Carissa's critical resource coordination work which equips

families with the necessary supplies and tools to care for their child. Thank you

for this life-changing gift of support to families caring for their sick child!

is the word Kelly and Calvin use most to describe their son, Asher, which

feels about right for someone so tiny who creates so much joy for his family.

AMAZING

Asher's family was overwhelmed by not

knowing how to fully care for him as he was born

with Down Syndrome and a heart defect. He

spent eight weeks in the hospital with his mom

Kelly driving every day to be with him, then

hustling home in the evening to pick up Asher's

two older siblings from daycare.

"I wasn't mentally prepared for Asher to be in

the PICU that long," reflects mom Kelly. "When

we went home, the hardest part was feeling so

isolated. We couldn't be around family or friends

because of Asher's weakened immune system. I

needed support – to just talk, to give normalcy to

what we were going through."

From reading oxygen levels while Asher slept

to keeping up with nine medical specialists, Kelly

and dad Calvin were thrust into the unfamiliar

world of caring for a medically complex child

and preparing him for heart surgery.

Hi! Thank you for reading the Donor

Impact Report, filled with life-changing

stories made possible by YOUR support.

Your BIG heart brightens up the dark

days of being a sick kid or an overwhelmed

parent unsure where to turn for answers.

Thanks to you, we're ready to turn BIG

dreams into reality. As the only organization

in Central VA dedicated to children with

serious illnesses, we must do more to meet

the needs of this rare disease community!

We're ready to go, we're ready for the

BIG hike ahead in serving more kids and

families!

The BIG plans your generosity inspired

will ensure parents receive connection and

resources to help their families thrive and

kids have BIG fun play opportunities.

Your support led to this BIG exciting

place, and your continued dedication will

help reach the BIG goals.

Thank you for helping families care for

their sick child in BIG and small ways!

Gratefully yours,

Stephanie Becker

Executive Director

Desi’s mom Alisha first became involved

with Better2gether because her family wanted

to experience outings with other families and

gain support from other parents who share

similar journeys.

Desi's family sought multiple medical

opinions for a year and a half. The geneticist

at VCU finally diagnosed her with a rare

genetic syndrome called Cornelia de Lange

syndrome (CdLS). This syndrome typically

impacts growth, cognitive and behavioral

development, and multiple internal organs.

"I think it’s harder on the parent than on the

child. Children only understand and feel love

and support. But parents can get so busy

providing that love and support, they may not

always pay attention to their own needs."

One of the family's highlights was attending

a Better2gether Summer Bash program. “Desi

enjoyed watching the kids,” Alisha shares.

“And we appreciated having the space and

accessibility that allowed the children to

make crafts and participate in activities.”

You provided Desi's family with

strength knowing they're not alone.

You set the course!

The BIG Hike

Your support allowed Desi to meet and

play with other kids. You provided her

family with a community to lean on.

PLEASE HELP!

Provide a Sick Child

With Critical Support

for $30 Per Month

There is a surge of sick babies whose

families are calling for help. No family

is prepared to hear that their child has

a serious illness, especially their

newborn. That kind of news leaves a

parent worried, scared, and unsure how

best to care for their child.

More families are reaching out,

overwhelmed and scared.

But you can help.

It costs an average of $30 to provide

personalized resource coordination

each time a sick child needs help. Your

gift will provide a family with supplies,

information, and caregiver support to

equip them to be there for their child. It

costs so little to help a sick child in a

BIG way - will you please help answer

the call for one child today?

YES! I want to help a sick child!

Yes! Please use my gift to provide resource coordination to

support children with serious illnesses and their families.

804-482-1584

Better2getherRVA.org

PO Box 29351, Henrico, VA 23242

$30 to support one for child

$60 to support two children

$90 to support three children

How your $30 helps a sick child::

Personalized

B2g resource

coordination to

support the sick

child's needs.

Please help one child for one month!

Your gift today will provide resource coordination to

family caring for their child with a serious illness.

But YOU can help a sick child

receive the care they need!

Dedicated B2g

team to check-in

and support the

family's overall

well-being.

B2g Support

groups & social

events to provide

encouragement

and community.

FAMILIES

CALLING,

PLEASE

HELP!

Just

$30 per

month!

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